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Publishers Weekly

"Clear moon, snow soon./ An old man in red will come to visit/ when I'm in bed." Johnston's (Cat, What Is That?) rhythmic account of a boy's anticipation on Christmas Eve borders on slight, but Porfirio (Happy Birthday, America!) expands and embroiders the premise in realistic oil paintings that offer a visual subplot. Each turn of the page tantalizes readers with glimpses of Santa (his shadow, his silhouette on the rooftop, his reflection in the tree ornaments), until, finally, the boy imagines catching the man in the act well, his boots anyway, disappearing up the chimney. Ages 5-8. (Aug.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature

For anyone who has anxiously awaited a visit from Santa or prayed for snow, the magic of the season is captured through the voice of a small child. He is tucked in bed wearing his Christmas pajamas. But the excitement is too much for sleep. While twirling a snow globe, the little boy imagines what he will do to catch a glimpse of the "old man in red." The inspiration for this endearing, yet simple story came from an old cross-stitched pillow found by the author. The essence and joy of the season is captured in a dozen sensual sentences, and the artwork is stunning. Rendered in oils, the paintings are rich in color and the perspective takes the viewer's imagination beyond the printed page. 2001, Rising Moon, $15.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Laura Hummel

School Library Journal

PreS-K-Like oversized Christmas cards, the oil-painted illustrations for this brief soliloquy are familiar and predictable. Santa flies his sleigh over snowy rooftops, a child peers from his bedroom window, then creeps down the festooned stairwell at night. However, if the pictures offer no surprises, Johnston's poetic text, with "crinkling presents," "the old man in red" dancing barefoot on the roof humming "his old, old song" gives the story a uniqueness all its own. With Clear Moon, children can relive the delicious anticipation of Santa's arrival, and even catch a memorable peek at him.-S. P. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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